Lawmakers' push for 'religious liberties' in schools sparks debate

Some Florida lawmakers who think public school children need the protection of a new “religious liberties” law aredrawing fire from critics who say federal and state constitutions already guarantee such freedom.

The legislative proposals would ensure that students could express their religious views in class assignments, on their clothing or jewelry or by praying during the school day, for example.

The legislators say that would prevent incidents such as the one in Broward County in 2014 when a teacher told a 12-year-old boy he could not read the Bible during class reading time. The district superintendent later apologized to the child and his family for what he called an isolated incident.

Supporters of the bills (SB 436 and HB303 ) say such things happen too often because school officials are nervous about appearing to endorse religion.

“The pendulum has swung so far there’s been a chilling effect on people of faith,” said Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, sponsor of the Senate bill. “Particularly Christian people feel this chilling effect.”

Critics disagree, arguing that current law and court rulings already provide sufficient and important protections to both students and teachers. They fear the proposals, if they become law, would blur church-state separation required by the U.S. Constitution, undermine science education, expose youngsters to religious teachings against their parents’ wishes and allow speech or symbols many find offensive — Ku Klux Klan rhetoric or swastikas, for example — to go unregulated in school.

Baxley, who has long championed conservative Christian causes, called the criticisms “rabbits and red herrings thrown on the table” and said his bill is about preventing religious discrimination. It already has won passage at both itsSenate committee stops and the endorsement of Senate President Joe Negron, who said the legislation would ensure “freedom of religion for everyone associated with our public school system.”

Although the Senate bill is ready for a floor vote, the House version has been voted on only in a subcommittee. But it won a unanimous 14-0 vote, with its sponsor, Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, who is also a pastor, urging passage by saying, “I say let the son — S.O.N. — shine in the state of Florida.”

Those sentiments worry opponents.

“I think we are opening a Pandora's box,” wrote Marcy Frederico, an east Orange County resident with three children in public schools, in an email urging her state representatives to vote against the bills. “What if a teacher starts spewing off a bunch of hate rhetoric in the name of religion?” she wrote.

“If you want to practice or express your religion, you can do so, just outside of school. Let’s leave it that way,” she added.

David Barke of the Anti-Defamation League in Florida said students already have the right to pray in school, to read and distribute religious material and to form religious-based extracurricular clubs, among other activities.

His group, which fights anti-Semitism, does not want Jewish children to have to listen to Christian prayers in school and worries that the Senate version of the bill, with an option for a “limited public forum,” could create “situations where one person is imposing his or her religious beliefs or practices … on others.”

Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, who voted against the measure in the judiciary committee, said the bill was unneeded.

“I am a Christian and a woman of strong faith, but I don’t believe this bill helps the situation at schools,” she said. “They can already pray. They can already express themselves that way.”

If isolated problems crop up at a particular school, then “let’s talk to that teacher,” she said. “We don’t need to add confusing statutory language for protection of what’s already protected.”

Brandon Haught, a biology teacher in Volusia County and a member of Florida Citizens for Science, told lawmakers the bill would hurt science education.

Some teachers might feel free to discuss evolution from a “religious perspective,” and some students might feel they could claim “religious discrimination” if a teacher tried to explain “the science,” Haught said.

“This bill would cast a chilling effect on science teachers across the state who would prefer to shortchange evolution instruction rather than deal with potential conflicts with students, parents and the community,” he added.

But Daniels, the House sponsor, said the bill was needed to bring “clarity” and “consistency” to public schools.

When questioned by another lawmaker about the need for the bill, she said a school in Memphis, Tenn., had not allowed a child to write a report on God. Other supporters, however, cited problems in Florida, in Broward and in other communities, where schools told students they could not write about biblical heroes or could not wear a cross on a necklace to school.

“Religious liberties are under assault in America,’’ said Pam Olsen of the Florida Prayer Network at a Senate committee meeting. “You can’t say the name Jesus in class. It’s offending to someone.”

Nathaniel Wilcox of the Christian Family Coalition said a state law would make sure all public schools responded appropriately when a child or teacher expressed their religious views. “We’re saying that, yes, this bill is greatly needed,” Wilcox said.

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